Draft-equalizer.



J. GROSS.

DRAFT EQUALIZER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8, 1914.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

JUMJW Uffl'fi, INVENTOR ATTO R N EY THE NORRIS PETERS to. PHOTO-LITHCL. WASHINGTON, D. c.

JOHN GROSS, OF CARROLL, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO THE GROSS COMPANY, OF CARROLL,

. IOWA.

DRAFT-EQUALIZER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 3d, 1915.

Application filed January 8, 1914. Serial N 0. 811,073.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN Gnoss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Carroll, in the county of Carroll and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Draft- Equalizer, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in draft equalizers.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of draft equalizers, and to provide a simple, practical and efficient device of strong and durable construction, designed for use on wagons and various other vehicles having a tongue, and adapted to be readily applied to the same, and capabio of equalizing the draft between and giving an equal pull to three horses, one being arranged at one side of the tongue or pull and two at the opposite side thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a draft equalizer of this character equipped with means for enabling it to pull at each side of a tongue or pole, so that draft may be equalized between the three horses.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claim, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a plan view of a draft equalizer, constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View of the draft equalizer on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the yoke.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawing.

In the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, the draft equalizer comprises in its construction a transversely disposed equalizing bar or lever 1, pivoted at a point intermediate of its ends at one side of a tongue or pole 2 by avertical bolt 3, which is supported by a transversely disposed arm consisting of upper and lower bars 4; and 5 pivoted at their inner ends to the tongue or pole 2 by a vertical bolt 6. The inner portions of the bars 4 and 5 of the laterally eX- tending arm are spaced apart to arrange them at the upper and lower faces of the tongue 2 and they are fitted together at their outer ends, which are pierced by the vertical pivot bolt. The vertical pivot bolt is located at an intermediate point between the center and one end of the draft equalizing bar or lever 1 to form a long and short arm, the longer arm beingtwice the length of the shorter arm. A swingletree 7 is connected by a link 8 and a strap 9 or other suitable means with the longer arm of the draft equalizing bar or lever 1, and a short doubletree 10 carrying a pairof swingletrees 11 is connected to the short arm of the equalizing bar or lever 1 by metallic straps 12. The loop 9 consists of a piece of strap metal doubled to form upper and lower sides, which are pivoted to the equalizing bar or lever 1 at the upper and lower faces thereof. The loop 9, which extends forwardly from the said bar or lever 1, is linked into the ring 8 and is of a length to permit the swingletree 7 to occupy a position in transverse alinement with the swingletrees 11 when there is a strain on the device and the bar or lever 1 is arranged at right angles to the tongue or pole 2. The straps 12, which are pivoted at their rear terminals to the upper face of the equalizing bar or lever 1, are spaced at their front. portions by bending the upper strap upwardly to enable them to straddle the doubletree and to permit the latter to swing clear of the equalizing bar or lever. The equalizing bar or lever is also connected with the tongue or pole 2 at opposite sides thereof by means of a yoke 13 and a pair of links 14 and 15 forming a flexible connection and extending diagonally inwardly and rearwardly from the pivot bolt 3 to the yoke 13. The links 14 and 15, which or bars, or be'eonstructed in any other suitable manner. The straps or bars ofthe link 15, see Fig. 3, are arranged at the upper and lower faces of the yoke 13 at one side thereof and are pivoted to the same'by a bolt 18. The relative longitudinal adjustment of the front and rear links through the bolt 16 and the perforations 1'? enables the equalizing bar and the laterally extending arm to be properly positioned with relation to the tongue 2. l H j v The yoke 13, which consists of spaced sides anda transverse front connecting portion, straddles, the rear portion of the tongue, and the sides of the yoke are provided at'their rear terminals with hooks 19 engaging a transverse pivot bolt 20 for connecting the tongue to the front hounds 21 Y of a vehicle. The yoke 13, which may be constructed of any suitable material, is retained in engagement with the transverse pivot bolt 20 by cotter pins 22, passing through alined, perforations 23 and 24 of the sides of the yoke and the bills or projecting portions of the hooks 19. This prevents the yoke from becoming disengaged from the pivot bolt of the tongue When there is no strain on the draft equalizer, The cotter pins are'adapted to be placed in and removed from the yoke without the use of a Wrench, and the pivot bolt20 is preferably equipped with a nut 25 having a tail or handle 26 to enable it to be operated Without a Wrench. The front transverse connecting portion of the yoke is provided With central and side perforations 27 adapted to permit an adjustment of the bolt 18, which connects the rear link 15 to the yoke. The yoke by straddling. the tongue enables the draft equalizer to pull at each side of the same and is adapted to avoid side draft. The tongue 2 is equipped with side pieces 28 and a rear transverse connecting brace or bar 29, but it may be constructed in any other desired manner.

What isclaimed is The combination with a tongue having a transverse pivot, of a transversely disposed equalizing bar or lever pivotally connected with the tongue at one side thereof in ad vance of the said pivot, a yoke straddling the tongue and composed of sides connected with the said pivot at opposite sides of the tongue, and a front transverse portion eX- tending across the upper face of the tongue and provided with central and side perforations, and a flexible connection extending from the pivot point of the draft equalizing bar or lever and provided with a pivot adapted to be arranged in any one of the perforations of the yoke, whereby the rear end of the flexible connection is adjustable transversely of the tongue and is adapted to be pivoted either centrally thereof or at either side of the same.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed iny signature in the presence of two witnesses.

J OHN GROSS. WVitnesses:

O. M. Gross, O. A. DENTLINGER.

Copies of this pstentmay be obtained! five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

7 Washington, D. G. 

